| Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. | | | | The Anvil |
| | (NORMAN CONQUEST, 1066)
ENGLAND’S on the anvil—hear the hammers ring— | |
| Clanging from the Severn to the Tyne! | |
| Never was a blacksmith like our Norman King— | |
| England’s being hammered, hammered, hammered into line! | |
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| England’s on the anvil! Heavy are the blows! | 5 |
| (But the work will be a marvel when it’s done) | |
| Little bits of Kingdoms cannot stand against their foes. | |
| England’s being hammered, hammered, hammered into one! | |
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| There shall be one people—it shall serve one Lord— | |
| (Neither Priest nor Baron shall escape!) | 10 |
| It shall have one speech and law, soul and strength and sword. | |
| England’s being hammered, hammered, hammered into shape! | | | | |
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